中部第 88 经（Sujato 英译）第 1 阅读页 · The Foreign Cloth · 1/1

Middle Discourses 88Middle Discourses 88The Foreign ClothThe Foreign Cloth

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

He wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother, for the day’s meditation.He wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother, for the day’s meditation.Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala mounted the Single Lotus Elephant and drove out from Sāvatthī in the middle of the day.Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala mounted the Single Lotus Elephant and drove out from Sāvatthī in the middle of the day.He saw Ānanda coming off in the distanceHe saw Ānanda coming off in the distance

and said to the chief minister Sirivaḍḍha,and said to the chief minister Sirivaḍḍha,“My dear Sirivaḍḍha, isn’t that Venerable Ānanda?”“My dear Sirivaḍḍha, isn’t that Venerable Ānanda?”“Indeed it is, Great King.”“Indeed it is, Great King.”

Then King Pasenadi addressed a man,Then King Pasenadi addressed a man,“Please, my man, go to Venerable Ānanda, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him,“Please, my man, go to Venerable Ānanda, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him,‘Sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala bows with his head at your feet.’‘Sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala bows with his head at your feet.’

And then say,And then say,‘Sir, if you have no urgent business, please wait a while out of sympathy.’”‘Sir, if you have no urgent business, please wait a while out of sympathy.’”“Yes, Your Majesty,” that man replied. He did as the king asked.“Yes, Your Majesty,” that man replied. He did as the king asked.

Ānanda consented with silence.Ānanda consented with silence.Then King Pasenadi rode on the elephant as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Ānanda on foot. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Ānanda,Then King Pasenadi rode on the elephant as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Ānanda on foot. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Ānanda,“Sir, if you have no urgent business, it would be nice of you to go to the bank of the Aciravatī River out of sympathy.”“Sir, if you have no urgent business, it would be nice of you to go to the bank of the Aciravatī River out of sympathy.”

Ānanda consented with silence.Ānanda consented with silence.He went to the river bank and sat at the root of a certain tree on a seat spread out.He went to the river bank and sat at the root of a certain tree on a seat spread out.Then King Pasenadi rode on the elephant as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Ānanda on foot. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Ānanda,Then King Pasenadi rode on the elephant as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached Ānanda on foot. He bowed, stood to one side, and said to Ānanda,

“Here, Venerable Ānanda, sit on this elephant rug.”“Here, Venerable Ānanda, sit on this elephant rug.”“Enough, Great King,“Enough, Great King,you sit on it.you sit on it.

I’m sitting on my own seat.”I’m sitting on my own seat.”So the king sat down on the seat spread out,So the king sat down on the seat spread out,and said,and said,

“Honorable Ānanda, would the Buddha engage in the sort of behavior—by way of body, speech, or mind—that is faulted by ascetics and brahmins?”“Honorable Ānanda, would the Buddha engage in the sort of behavior—by way of body, speech, or mind—that is faulted by ascetics and brahmins?”“No, Great King, the Buddha would not engage in the sort of behavior that is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”“No, Great King, the Buddha would not engage in the sort of behavior that is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

For I couldn’t fully express the question, but Venerable Ānanda’s answer completed it for me.For I couldn’t fully express the question, but Venerable Ānanda’s answer completed it for me.I don’t believe that praise or criticism of others spoken by incompetent fools, without examining or scrutinizing, is the most important thing.I don’t believe that praise or criticism of others spoken by incompetent fools, without examining or scrutinizing, is the most important thing.Rather, I believe that praise or criticism of others spoken by competent and intelligent people after examining and scrutinizing is the most important thing.Rather, I believe that praise or criticism of others spoken by competent and intelligent people after examining and scrutinizing is the most important thing.

But Honorable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?”But Honorable Ānanda, what kind of bodily behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?”“Unskillful behavior.”“Unskillful behavior.”“But what kind of bodily behavior is unskillful?”“But what kind of bodily behavior is unskillful?”

“Blameworthy behavior.”“Blameworthy behavior.”“But what kind of bodily behavior is blameworthy?”“But what kind of bodily behavior is blameworthy?”“Hurtful behavior.”“Hurtful behavior.”

“But what kind of bodily behavior is hurtful?”“But what kind of bodily behavior is hurtful?”“Behavior that results in suffering.”“Behavior that results in suffering.”“But what kind of bodily behavior results in suffering?”“But what kind of bodily behavior results in suffering?”

“Bodily behavior that leads to hurting yourself, hurting others, and hurting both,“Bodily behavior that leads to hurting yourself, hurting others, and hurting both,and which makes unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline.and which makes unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline.That kind of bodily behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”That kind of bodily behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

“But what kind of verbal behavior …“But what kind of verbal behavior …mental behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?” …mental behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?” …“Mental behavior that leads to hurting yourself, hurting others, and hurting both,“Mental behavior that leads to hurting yourself, hurting others, and hurting both,

and which makes unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline.and which makes unskillful qualities grow while skillful qualities decline.That kind of mental behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”That kind of mental behavior is faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”“Sir, does the Buddha praise giving up all these unskillful things?”“Sir, does the Buddha praise giving up all these unskillful things?”

“Great king, the Realized One has given up all unskillful things and possesses skillful things.”“Great king, the Realized One has given up all unskillful things and possesses skillful things.”“But sir, what kind of bodily behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?”“But sir, what kind of bodily behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?”“Skillful behavior.”“Skillful behavior.”

“But what kind of bodily behavior is skillful?”“But what kind of bodily behavior is skillful?”“Blameless behavior.”“Blameless behavior.”“But what kind of bodily behavior is blameless?”“But what kind of bodily behavior is blameless?”

“Pleasing behavior.”“Pleasing behavior.”“But what kind of bodily behavior is pleasing?”“But what kind of bodily behavior is pleasing?”“Behavior that results in happiness.”“Behavior that results in happiness.”

“But what kind of bodily behavior results in happiness?”“But what kind of bodily behavior results in happiness?”“Bodily behavior that leads to pleasing yourself, pleasing others, and pleasing both,“Bodily behavior that leads to pleasing yourself, pleasing others, and pleasing both,and which makes unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow.and which makes unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow.

That kind of bodily behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”That kind of bodily behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”“But what kind of verbal behavior …“But what kind of verbal behavior …mental behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?” …mental behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins?” …

“Mental behavior that leads to pleasing yourself, pleasing others, and pleasing both,“Mental behavior that leads to pleasing yourself, pleasing others, and pleasing both,and which makes unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow.and which makes unskillful qualities decline while skillful qualities grow.That kind of mental behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”That kind of mental behavior is not faulted by sensible ascetics and brahmins.”

“Sir, does the Buddha praise embracing all these skillful things?”“Sir, does the Buddha praise embracing all these skillful things?”“Great king, the Realized One has given up all unskillful things and possesses skillful things.”“Great king, the Realized One has given up all unskillful things and possesses skillful things.”“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

How well this was said by Venerable Ānanda!How well this was said by Venerable Ānanda!I’m delighted and satisfied with what you’ve expressed so well.I’m delighted and satisfied with what you’ve expressed so well.So much so thatSo much so that

if an elephant-treasure was suitable for you, I would give you one.if an elephant-treasure was suitable for you, I would give you one.If a horse-treasure was suitable for you, I would give you one.If a horse-treasure was suitable for you, I would give you one.If a prize village was suitable for you, I would give you one.If a prize village was suitable for you, I would give you one.

But, sir, I know thatBut, sir, I know thatthese things are not suitable for you.these things are not suitable for you.This foreign cloth was sent to me by King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, packed in a parasol case. It’s exactly sixteen measures long and eight wide.This foreign cloth was sent to me by King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, packed in a parasol case. It’s exactly sixteen measures long and eight wide.

May Venerable Ānanda please accept it out of sympathy.”May Venerable Ānanda please accept it out of sympathy.”“Enough, Great King. My three robes are complete.”“Enough, Great King. My three robes are complete.”“Sir, we have both seen this Aciravatī River“Sir, we have both seen this Aciravatī River

when it has rained heavily in the mountains, and the river overflows both its banks.when it has rained heavily in the mountains, and the river overflows both its banks.In the same way, Venerable Ānanda can make a set of three robes for himself from this foreign cloth,In the same way, Venerable Ānanda can make a set of three robes for himself from this foreign cloth,and you can share your old robes with your fellow monks.and you can share your old robes with your fellow monks.

In this way my religious donation will come to overflow, it seems to me.In this way my religious donation will come to overflow, it seems to me.Please accept the foreign cloth.”Please accept the foreign cloth.”So Ānanda accepted it.So Ānanda accepted it.

Then King Pasenadi said to him,Then King Pasenadi said to him,“Well, now, sir, I must go.“Well, now, sir, I must go.I have many duties, and much to do.”I have many duties, and much to do.”

“Please, Great King, go at your convenience.”“Please, Great King, go at your convenience.”Then King Pasenadi approved and agreed with what Ānanda said. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Ānanda, keeping him on his right, before leaving.Then King Pasenadi approved and agreed with what Ānanda said. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Ānanda, keeping him on his right, before leaving.Soon after he left, Ānanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side,Soon after he left, Ānanda went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side,

and told him what had happened.and told him what had happened.He presented the cloth to the Buddha.He presented the cloth to the Buddha.Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,

“Mendicants, King Pasenadi is lucky, so very lucky,“Mendicants, King Pasenadi is lucky, so very lucky,to get to see Ānanda and pay homage to him.”to get to see Ānanda and pay homage to him.”That is what the Buddha said.That is what the Buddha said.

Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.